Seven Unsettling Novels
A book list featuring women on the brink
'Tis the season for spooky reading! As a sensitive, anxious person deeply bothered by gore and violence, most horror novels aren't for me, yet I enjoy reading seasonally and often crave creepy stories this time of year. I realized some thrillers or horror-adjacent books I've read can best be described as "unsettling." There's an eeriness to them that keeps me turning the pages. An unsettling atmosphere or setting is one of the patterns I noticed in my reading, but another I'm drawn to includes stories of women who are this close to losing it. We'll save ideas for what that says about me for another day.
If you too enjoy fiction about complicated or even unlikeable women (pause if you need to collect yourself), this book list is for you. Here are seven moody, atmospheric, and unsettling books featuring women on the brink.
Megan Abbott has long been one of my favorite suspense writers because of the way she slowly escalates the tension in her books. She writes fascinating female characters, and her gifts are displayed in her latest novel, Beware the Woman. The woman in this story is Jacy, a newlywed pregnant with her first child. She and her husband, Jack, set out on a long road trip to visit Jack's father, Doctor Ash, who lives in a remote woodland area in Michigan. After an arduous journey, Jacy is excited to meet her new father-in-law and feels at peace knowing he used to be a doctor. But soon, Doctor Ash is paying too much attention to Jacy and her baby. He makes her uncomfortable, but her husband assures her he knows best. As the novel progresses, Abbott slowly builds a sense of palpable unease. Jacy feels it, the reader feels it, but the men keep saying everything is fine. Everything is not fine. I guarantee you’ll be thinking about this story long after it’s over.
Though they've evolved a lot over the years, libraries are often known for their quiet and calm. Those two qualities are what Margo seeks when she relocates and begins her job as a circulation clerk. Margo works hard and is quickly adored by her colleagues and patrons. Her new life is exactly what she hoped it'd be until Patricia, a new librarian, is hired. Margo and Patricia have tension from their first meeting, which slowly grows as the story progresses. Margo is afraid Patricia will find out who she really is, and Patricia knows she needs to stop researching Margo's past at work, but she just can't help it. Laura Sims brilliantly explores obsession and identity in this unputdownable thriller with a did-that-just-happen ending.
Detective Cassie Maddox was a supporting character in one of my all-time favorite mystery novels, In the Woods. She gets her own story in The Likeness, the second in Tana French's Dublin Murder Squad series. (You don't need to read In the Woods to enjoy The Likeness, but it will fill in some details.) When the book begins, Cassie is still reeling from a previous case but can't say no when asked to go undercover. A body has been found, and the victim looks just like Cassie. An ID on the woman says her name is Lexie Madison, a name used by Cassie years prior in a different undercover case. Detectives have few leads, so they ask Cassie to step into this mystery woman's life so they can find out who killed her. You might have to suspend some belief that two strangers could look so much alike, but this book is worth it. I haven't found a mystery writer I enjoy more than Tana French, who brilliantly captures Cassie's unease, exhaustion, and strength.
The unnamed Mrs. March is the loving, proud wife of a literary star whose latest book is getting a lot of buzz. An acquaintance suggests to Mrs. March that the promiscuous protagonist of her husband's novel is based on her, an idea that profoundly offends her. As she thinks about it, Mrs. March begins to doubt her husband and his faithfulness. Her paranoia about who she's really married to grows until she can't take it anymore. Readers who enjoy unreliable narrators will breeze through this suspenseful story that’s set in New York City. This book gives some serious Mad Men meets X-Files vibes.
Gretchen and Abby are best friends and have been since fifth grade. When they start high school, a rift begins to form between them. Abby senses that something is off with Gretchen and becomes convinced a demon has possessed her bestie. She does what any good friend would do and tries to stage an exorcism. This book is marketed as a horror novel, but My Best Friend's Exorcism delighted me with its playful humor and 1980s nostalgia. I skimmed a couple of scary scenes, but through it all, I cheered on Abby as she worked to save her friend. This book has a lot happening, but I took away a simple, sweet message about the power of female friendship.
Molly is a frazzled mom of two who's started hearing things. She's been jumpy and anxious lately, but that's nothing new for the parents of young children. Molly's fears are realized when an intruder enters her home. The Need is a speculative novel where nothing is quite as it seems. I didn't end up loving this book, but I knew it belonged on this list because what I most remember about it is Molly's escalating fear and desperation. If you enjoy speculative fiction, you'll appreciate the motherhood themes Helen Phillips plays with in this haunting thriller.
Lisa Jewell is one of my must-read authors thanks to the well-rounded characters who populate her thrillers. Two of Jewell's most memorable characters appear in None of This Is True. There's Alix, a beautiful, wealthy podcaster who seems to have it all: a solid marriage, two healthy kids, and a thriving career. And then there's Josie, a plain wife and mother who feels she's lost her identity. The two women meet at a restaurant on the night of their forty-fifth birthdays, and Josie believes it's fate. She tracks down Alix and says she wants to be the subject of her next podcast. Josie is ready to change her life and wants Alix to capture her journey. As Josie becomes clingier and her stories become more outlandish, Alix quickly wonders what she's gotten herself into. The two women are about to collide in a life-changing way.
I hope you found at least one book from this list to add to your to-read pile. What other titles would you include? Have you read any of the books I listed? I'd love to hear your thoughts. Consider sharing this post and leave a comment with your suggestions for future book lists.
I wish I had time to read all of these.
My favorite cover is “My Best Friend’s Exorcism.” Spooky!